College of Engineering noting ‘Engineers Week’ Feb. 18-24

The Idaho State University College of Engineering is marking Engineers Week 2007 running Feb. 18-24 with educational outreach to the community and a banquet.

Engineering competitions for area high school and college students will take place on Thursday, Feb. 22, in the Pond Student Union Building Ballroom on the ISU campus in Pocatello. Check-in is at 10 a.m. and competitions begin at 11 a.m. The competitions will include: an edible car race, a distance competition for a car made from a mousetrap, strength testing for a Popsicle bridge design, a design for an electric car that will travel five meters and stop on its own in the shortest amount of time possible, and a clay boat competition that will test how much weight the boat can hold and still float.

The events allow for friendly competition among the students while affording an opportunity to learn more about engineering designs and applications.

“The competitions give high school students a glimpse of what goes into engineering problem-solving, and how fun it is to be ingenious, creative, and cooperative,” said Ken Bosworth, chair of the ISU computer-science program.

The high school students also will have a chance to learn more about ISU and the advantages the College of Engineering has to offer. Representatives from Enrollment Planning will be on hand to answer questions about college life and applying to ISU.

For more information about this event, contact Annie Havlicak at 282-2969.

The ISU College of Engineering also will hold its annual National Engineers Week Banquet on Feb. 22 at the Shilo Inn in Idaho Falls. The 2007 Outstanding Engineer Award will be given and the keynote speaker will be Dr. Richard Jacobsen, dean of the ISU College of Engineering. Jacobsen’s keynote address is titled “Preparing Tomorrow’s Engineers Today.” The event begins with a 6 p.m. no-host social hour, followed by the 7 p.m. dinner and the 8 p.m. program. For more information on the banquet, call (208) 282-2902.